Music

Forced for the first time in its 27-year history to cancel its spring concert, the California Desert Chorale gave a virtual performance of “Anthem,” from Chess, by Benny Anderson, Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus and arranged by John Purifoy. “The technical aspects of putting this together were challenging for many in the chorale, as we…

Twenty-six visual artists, musicians, authors, graphic designers, and other creative professionals earned grants from the California Desert Arts Council (CDAC) in May to “Keep Arts Alive,” an initiative to provide financial support to Coachella Valley artists affected by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Established by CDAC and La Quinta Arts Foundation, the $50,000 fund…

A year ago, Jeff Frost was the toast of the desert. His time-lapse film California on Fire had screened at Palm Springs Art Museum, and he was lining up additional dates at other museums in Southern Californian and beyond. A trained firefighter, the artist spent five years documenting 70 fires, amassing 350,000 photographs and some…

The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument welcomes amateur and professional photographers to participate in a photo contest to mark its 20th anniversary. Photograph by Tom Brewster/courtesy Palm Springs Life and Friends of the Desert Mountains COVID-19 Arts organizations invited to apply for COVID-19 relief funds (WESTAF)The Western States Arts Federation’s WESTAF…

“As a person who grew up hugging and kissing people in hellos, goodbyes, tough times and joyous ones, it’s hard for me to not embrace someone during this pandemic,” says Desert Hot Springs vocalist Ana Rangel, who performed “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel and won a $500 grant to ‘Keep Art Alive’ from the…

Painters, photographers, singers, writers, animators, and graphic designers received artist relief grants through the Keep Art Alive emergency fund established by the California Desert Arts Council and affiliate La Quinta Arts Foundation. The $50,000 fund awards one-time grants of $500 to individuals and $1,500 to organizations for creating thoughtful and inspiring works responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are…

For Diego Elias of Palm Desert, sheltering at home is a family affair best expressed with the sum of his talents as a sound engineer, musician, and video and animation technician. Six-year-old Evan, 17-year-old Michael, and their camera-shy mom all perform with Elias in the music video for “Raindrops,” which he composed, recorded and, mixed…

Sequestered during the COVID-19 outbreak, La Quinta artist Thomas Gill found a way to bring the atmospheric desert into his multimedia world. The result: a trippy, pulsating trek through a graphically designed landscape drenched in the colors of so many awe-inspiring sunsets. “I do professional photography and videography but also have a passion for graphic…

A “happy” red heart (it has a face!) reaches to wrap its arms (it has those, too) around you in an animated message encouraging us to “stay strong” and reminding us to keep our distance, protect ourselves and others, disinfect surfaces, and stay inside. “I have created a short animated video that will create awareness…

“Let there be peace, and let it begin with me,” Brianna Finnell sings from her La Quinta sequester. She posted her two-and-a-half-minute video performance and earned a $500 to Keep Art Alive — a grant from the California Desert Arts Council (CDAC) offering relief to working visual and performing artists whose livelihood has been impacted by…